Cross-country skiing, part of the Nordic skiing family, is different from downhill skiing in some fundamental ways. The skis themselves are narrower, the poles are longer and the boots are bound to the ski only at the toe, allowing the heel to lift off the ski. My dad used his skis as transportation to get to school as a boy growing up in Norway; here in Utah skiing is typically recreational. A venue offering groomed cross-country ski trails will often provide a map of the trails, which have two sets of tracks. (Ski like you drive — stay to the right.) Skiers can ski out of the tracks, of course, but the tracks make it much easier to keep your balance and avoid crossing your skis, especially if you are a beginner. And forget about crowds, long lines at the lifts, or pricey lift tickets — cross-country skiing is a chance to get out and enjoy nature.

When I found out about Jolley’s Ranch being open for winter recreation it seemed like the perfect opportunity to share with my kids something I had loved growing up; and if they had a miserable time, we were only 15 minutes from home.
    
It turned out I had nothing to worry about.

With nearly five miles of groomed cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails, and a fast (but safe) tubing and sledding hill, Jolley’s Ranch is a winter playground for the whole family.

“This is a fantastic place to bring families for cross-country skiing,” said Jessie Gardiner, an employee of Canyon Parks and Recreation. And she would know — Jessie has worked for several different Utah cross-country ski venues, and she said this one is perfect to start the kids on. She said the trails at Jolley’s Ranch would have to be described as being “very easy,” great for first-timers.

“The trails are fairly flat with only small hills, and we have had children as young as 2 and 3 years old out here enjoying the skiing.” She smiled at my camera and I grinned back. We were sitting in the yurt at the trail head watching my two children, ages 4 and 2, gulp down a thermos of hot chocolate I had packed along with a couple of sandwiches. My 2-year-old  had just been on skis for the first time. Despite having to struggle through over a foot of gorgeous new powder, (which came nearly up to her waist, since she is only 33 inches tall) she had managed pretty well, and had gone from tearfully saying “I don’t know how!” to exclaiming “I’m skiing!” within about 10 minutes. Jessie had suggested taking her to practice out in the parking area where the snow was packed down to let her get around a little bit easier, which was a great idea.  

The snow was still coming down as the door to the yurt blasted open and Kim Francom, director of Canyon Parks, blew in, his mustache frosted over with a layer of snow. “I’m out to go groom the trails,” he said. “Good thing I know where the trails are, because they are completely covered up!”

He quickly left to work on the trails as more people entered the yurt to rent skis and snowshoes. I asked the kids if they wanted to go back out, but neither one wanted to try again that day, (I didn’t blame them, considering the blizzard that was going on) and we decided to come back later in the week when the weather was better.

As we packed up our gear to head out, Jessie described to me some of the animals we might see enjoying their natural habitat in the canyon. “Just a week or so ago, I saw the biggest elk I have ever seen,” she said. “You would not believe how incredibly beautiful and powerful these animals are.” She also told me about seeing the tracks of many other animals: deer, coyote and rabbit. She also mentioned that cougar hunters are common in the area, although she personally hasn’t seen cougar tracks yet this year.

Gardiner wasn’t kidding -about the abundance of wildlife -- on the scenic drive back down the canyon we were thrilled to see five deer loping gracefully down the road in a line alongside the car just ahead of us, seemingly unbothered by the traffic through their home.

A few days later we headed up to try again, this time with better results. The sky was blue, the sun was shining and it was warmer outside, which made a huge difference in how long the kids lasted. Two hours flew by and we finally stopped for lunch. My 4-year-old was able to keep up a good pace, while my youngest was obviously a little slower. One thing we found was that she didn’t really need her ski poles – maybe because she is so close to the ground at only 2 years old. She was having so much fun that she cried when we took her skis off.

After eating our packed lunch we hit the adjoining tubing hill for about an hour, and a 15-minute drive has us back home in Springville, getting warm and dry.

Although there is no shortage of ski venues in Utah, the proximity of Jolley’s Ranch is just one thing that will keep us coming back; it’s practically in our backyard.

The easy access is a huge bonus for a couple of reasons, the most obvious being time. The less time in the car the better, particularly with small children. Not having far to drive also means that a ski trip doesn’t have to take up your whole day. It’s completely feasible to head up for just a couple of hours. In addition, the road up Hobble Creek Canyon is plowed frequently, which makes it accessible even if you don’t have all-wheel drive.

Experienced skiers needn’t be turned off by the “easy” trails, either – cross-country skiing on less challenging terrain is still a great workout, and it gives more opportunity to relax and enjoy the surrounding scenery and wildlife, which is worth the trip in and of itself.

And while you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to enjoy the sport, cross-country skiing is demanding and is an excellent form of exercise. It uses every major muscle group and an hour of skiing will burn 600+ calories, depending on your size.  So go ahead and enjoy the hot cocoa – you earned it!

Still not convinced? Cross-country skiing is also typically easier on your wallet than its downhill cousin. Equipment rental is less expensive, and a family trail pass will cost much less than one individual lift ticket.

Jolley’s Ranch rents skis, boots and poles for adults and kids ages 5 and up. (We brought our own equipment.) If you have children younger than 5 and want to bring them along but don’t have equipment, consider bringing a plastic sled to pull them in. The yurt is stocked with a couple of sleds for rent as well.

People using the park for skiing or snowshoeing will need to purchase a trail pass for a full or half day. Family or individual season passes are also available through Springville city. Restrooms are available, and snacks and hot chocolate can be purchased at the yurt for $1 apiece.

“There is so much to enjoy, our biggest problem is just letting people know we are here,” said Francom.

If you’re looking for a family outing in a gorgeous setting, a great workout, or just a way to enjoy all this Utah snow, try it out — Norwegian or not, cross-country skiing just might be your new favorite sport.

GETTING THERE:

Jolley’s Ranch is just seven miles east of I-15. To get there, take exit 260 off I-15 and head east on 400 South. Follow the signs leading to Hobble Creek Canyon and the Hobble Creek Golf Course. A couple of miles into Hobble Creek Canyon, you will pass the golf course on your right. You will then come to a fork in the road. Hang right and after about a mile you will see the signs for Jolley’s Ranch on your right. (This is also where the plowed road ends.) Park up near the yurt (to the left) to rent skis or snowshoes and pay your trail fee, or park near the pavilion (to the right) to enjoy the free sledding and tubing hill. Many people park below the gates to Jolley’s Ranch to go snowmobiling. Gates close at 5 p.m. To inquire about park use after hours or for more information, contact Canyon Parks and Recreation at (801) 489-5872.

IF YOU GO:
HOURS: Jolley’s Ranch gates are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Closed on Sundays and holidays.
EQUIPMENT: Cross-country ski equipment rental is $10 for adults, $7 for children ages 5-16.
COST: Full-day ski trail passes are $10 for adults, $5 for children under age 12 or $25 for a family. Half-day ski trail passes are available after 1 p.m. for $7 per adult and $3 per child under age 12. Day passes for snowshoe trails are $2.50 per child, $5 per adult, or $10 per family. Snowshoe equipment rental is $8 per day for adults and children age five and up. Call (801) 489-2770 for information on season passes and rates.


WHAT TO BRING:
• Although you will want to dress warm, allow for comfortable movement. Getting your blood moving will help keep you warm.
• Remember to wear sunblock and consider packing water bottles and snacks.
• Hot chocolate and snacks are available for purchase at the yurt.
• Free drinking water is provided at the yurt.
• Restrooms are heated.